John H. Lumpkin to Howell Cobb, August 22, 1848

Athens, East Tennessee, 22 August, 1848.

Dear Cobb, I reached the Stone Mountain on the morning of the 16th inst., the day after the democratic mass meeting, and I found our friends firm, united, enthusiastic and confident of success. As the meeting was over, I passed on the line of the road,¹ and I saw democrats from all the counties in my district and they assured me that the democracy would do their whole duty for Hackett,² and for Cass and Butler. I did not see Hackett, nor did I go to Rome, but I came to this place to see my family as fast as the publick conveyances would take me. I found my wife and children in good health, and my blue eyed boy that I had never seen, the largest and finest child I have. I shall leave here tomorrow for Georgia, and will go by appointment to Cumming. During next week I shall go through Walker county and see Aycock and such as are disaffected there, and I will go from there to Summerville and from thence to Rome. Our democratic friends in this part of Tennessee are doing their duty, and the result of the late elections has given them confidence and hope, and discouraged our political opponents. A. V. Brown has passed on through this section of East Tennessee and he is now above here making speeches. Govr. Jones³ is in company with him. Gentry⁴ has a list of appointments on his return home from Congress. He will be accompanied wherever he goes. I have no fears for the result in this State. I have seen many Clay Whigs since I came here who do not think that any booby can make a President. I am satisfied that there are many here who feel and act just as John M. Botts did while we were at Washington. Colquitt and McAllister visited Marietta from the Stone Mountain, and from there this week they will be at Canton, and next week at Cumming. You must be sure and attend the district mass meeting to be held in Cass county. I am in good health.

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¹ The Georgia and the Western & Atlantic Railroads.

² Thomas C. Hackett, of Marietta, Ga., Member of Congress, 1849-1851.

³ Aaron V. Brown and George W. Jones were leading Democrats in Tennessee.

⁴ Meredith P. Gentry, a Whig Congressman from Tennessee, 1839-1843 and 1845-1853.

SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p. 116-7

A Point Of Honor

Merideth P. Gentry was once an eloquent member of the United States Congress from Tennessee.  He flew off the handle, as a Whig, when Gen. Scott was nominated for the Presidency.  How much he contributed to Scott’s defeat, it is impossible to tell, as he was a much more respectable man than he is now; but it is certain, the rebound of his fire killed Gentry as a Whig.  As a Know-Nothing he ran afterward for Governor, Against Andrew Johnson, and was badly beaten.  Now he is a member of the so-called Southern Congress at Richmond.  On his way to the seat of piracy, from his resident in Bedford county Tennessee, he called on Dr. Brownlow.  Being well stiffened up with his usual stimulant, he was talkative.

“Well, Brownlow,” said he, “I am going to Richmond on a point of honor.  You know I had retired from politics, and had no desire to re-enter the arena.  But my old friends and neighbors insisted that I should run for the Confederate Congress, and I was elected.  Now I make it a point of honor to go, just because they say that McClellan will bag Richmond, and capture the entire Congress.  I wish them to see that I am not afraid.”

“Yes, Gentry,” replied Dr. Brownlow, “and there is another point of honor, which you have failed to mention.  Buell and his army are at Nashville, and are therefore nearer to Bedford county than McClellan is to Richmond. – You are like a pismire on a chunk fired at each end; you have a point of honor on either side of you.”

Gentry acknowledge the corn. – {Nashville Correspondence Cin. Gaz.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 1

A Point Of Honor

Meredith P. Gentry having been elected to the rebel Congress from Tennessee, called on Parson Brownlow on his way to Richmond.  He told Brownlow that he had retired from politics, but his neighbors had insisted on his going to Richmond, and that he made it a point of honor to go, just because they said McClellan would bag Richmond and capture the entire Congress.  He wished to show them that he was not afraid. – “Yes,” replied Brownlow, “and there is another point of honor which you have failed to mention.  Buell and his army are at Nashville, and are therefore nearer to Bedford county than McClellan is to Richmond.  You are like a pismire on a chunk of wood fired at each end; you have a point of honor on either side of you.”  Gentry wilted.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 2